BCC Suspends Nursing Program For One Year

The decision is another blow — hopefully a short-term one — to nursing education in the region following the impending closure of Southern Vermont College. The associate's degree program will go on hiatus for first-year students in 2019 to address lingering issues and begin re-enrollment of new students in fall 2020.

B&B Micro Manufacturing Plans Move to Adams

The Board of Selectmen on Wednesday approved a seven-year tax-financing agreement that will help smooth the tiny house manufacturer's expansion.

Ashuwillticook Rail Trail Paving to Begin Next Year

Amer Raza, a design engineer with MassDOT, told the commission last week that the repaving project is slated to begin in earnest next year.

Lanesborough Selectmen Vote Down Police Station Feasibility Study

At about 7:30 Tuesday night Chairman of the three-member Board of Selectmen John Goerlach asked for a motion. And there was silence. The board had just spent an hour and a half critiquing a request for qualifications to find a firm to conduct a needs assessment and feasibility study for a Police Station. It included looking at potential renovations to the current station, building new on a parcel near Laston Field, or renovations to building on the existing Vacation Village property.

College Notes: April & May 2019

Grace Ellrodt of Lenox, a junior at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, recently presented the results of her environmental studies capstone project titled "Insulating Window Insert Interventions in Energy Injustice: Incentives, Barriers, & Strategies."

Pittsfield Man Found Guilty Of Rape And Abuse Of A Child

Pittsfield Councilor Reignites School Buildings Discussion

City Council President John Krol is pushing for the consolidation of the city's two high schools to be a top talking point in the upcoming election. Krol, who has said he is not seeking re-election, is pushing for the School Building Needs Commission to began looking at what to do with the city's school buildings. He also is glad to hear that school administrators are starting to take a closer look at the elementary schools.

Youth Center Inc. Moving to Former Cheshire School

Members of the Youth Center attended an informal selectmen's meeting Tuesday to sign a lease agreement for eight classrooms in the new section of the former elementary school.

MCLA Picks Winners of Third Entrepreneurship Challenge

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students Nicholas Strezynski and Owen Fitzgerald came up with towel that includes a denim strop designed to extend the life of disposable razors.

'After': Of Good Girls and Bad Boys

You know the stereotype. He is the ubiquitously tattooed bad boy on the outside, yet capable of quoting from "Wuthering Heights" or "The Great Gatsby." But perhaps so could Hannibal Lecter.

Windstorm Blows Through Berkshires

A severe storm system working its way along the East Coast blew through the Berkshires early Monday morning, taking down trees in several areas.

Mount Greylock Committee at Standstill on Multipurpose Building

The Mount Greylock School Committee for the second straight meeting failed to reach a decision on whether to accept the low bid to build a multipurpose building on the campus of the middle-high school.

North Berkshire Coalition Forum Urged to Think Green

Elena Traister, professor of environmental studies at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, got the ball rolling by reminding the audience of the importance of those "three Rs" - but also of their pitfalls.

McCandless Shrinks Pittsfield School Budget Request

Superintendent Jason McCandless is scaling back his budget request by about a half million dollars. McCandless said he had a meeting with Mayor Linda Tyer and Director of Finance Matthew Kerwood since revealing his initial request for a $3.4 million increase to the budget and the three agreed to a lesser number. Particularly, McCandless said the number of new positions, mostly new paraprofessionals, is being scaled back.

Clarksburg Board Nixes Request for Full-Time Police Officer

Police Chief Michael Williams had pitched the idea back in February as the town was beginning to prepare for next year's budget. Another officer at night, Williams said, would provide a more consistent back up for investigations and emergencies and take up some of the administrative duties so he could do more policing.

Fall Foliage Parade Will Celebrate 'Wizard of Oz'

The 64th annual parade, sponsored by 1Berkshire, will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the cinematic classic "The Wizard of Oz."

Cutting Edge Fitness Celebrates Five Years

Aimee Sinopoli said it is always a challenge to own your own business but with over five years helping people along their fitness journey she still feels lucky.

Career Fair Draws 150 Job Seekers to Taconic High School

Some 150 or so job seekers made their way to the newly built Taconic High School on Wednesday for 1Berkshire's annual career fair. The event drew some 73 different exhibitors to talk about jobs they have available, or services they offer job seekers. According to Ben Lamb, it is the most exhibitors the organization has had at the annual fair.

Pittsfield Council Asked To Contribute More Toward Clapp Park Project

After bids came in too high twice, the City Council is being asked to up the city's contribution toward the renovation of Clapp Park. The city had received a $400,000 state grant to undertake a massive restoration of the West Housatonic Street park. That was matched by city funds for bathrooms, the community preservation act funding, $180,000 donation from the Rotary Club, and a $5,000 donation from Carr Hardware.

Pittsfield's Business Development Manager Discusses Challenges, Successes

In less than 24 hours, Coakley presented to two different city boards on his work over the last year or so. The business manager is tasked with helping to bring companies to the city and helping local ones grow.

Bellevue Cemetery Project Still on Track in Adams

The town will use more than $100,000 from the cemetery fund to overhaul the current structure at the cemetery in the town's south end. A smaller shed will also be purchased to accommodate cold storage.

Williamstown Planning Board to Look at Bylaws for Agriculture, Lighting

The Planning Board has begun the process of studying bylaw changes that potentially could make farms more financially viable in the town.

Boxing Gym Opens in South County

Berkshire Boxing Club, which began nearly three years ago as a "floating" boxing program, has a permanent home at 72 Stockbridge Road in Great Barrington (the former Gans Bedding).

Biz Briefs: Couple Returns to Berkshires to Buy Catherine's Chocolates

Catherine's Chocolate owner Kathy Sinico is retiring after more than 40 years of hand crafting chocolates from the same location on Route 7 in Great Barrington. The chocolatier has been a pillar of the South Berkshires, well known for its homey atmosphere and the scent of chocolate. Patrons return year after year for life celebrations in which Catherine’s Chocolate are an essential tradition.

Restaurateur Switches Up Career With Dave's Package Store

The longtime owner of Desperados decided he wanted to get out of the restaurant business and after selling his restaurant over a year ago came upon another opportunity.

Cheshire Selectmen, Finance Committee Review FY 2020 Budget

The Finance Committee had no real requests for deductions and, if anything, advocated for increases and more future planning.

MCLA's New Named League's Pitcher of Week for Third Time this Year

For the third time this season, Pittsfield High graduate Bobby New has been selected as the MASCAC pitcher of the week.

North Adams Happenings: April 17-23

Brought to you by:the North Adams Office of Tourism & Community Events

New Police Advisory Committee Briefed on Public Records, Open Meeting

Even if the Police Advisory Committee recommends an officer receive discipline regarding an incident, they won't know the actual results. That's what Police Chief Michael Wynn told the group at their second meeting on Tuesday. The group will be tasked with reviewing internal affairs reports after the fact to provide some oversight of the department but it will only be privy to whether or not there was discipline issues, but not exactly what it entailed.

Clarksburg Finance Committee Has Questions on School Budget

The Finance Committee and School Department are working through the budget for fiscal 2020 and trying to determine where some $94,000 in retirement insurance for should land.

MCLA Tennis Team Edges Lyndon State

Mohamed Mahrous won a third set tiebreak to lift the MCLA mixed tennis team to a hard fought 5-4 non conference win over Northern Vermont University-Lyndon Tuesday afternoon at the Zavattaro Athletics Complex.

Wahconah & Mount Greylock to Match Wits on WGBY

The two teams, Wahconah Regional High School and Mount Greylock Regional School, will spar on "As Schools Match Wits," airing on WGBY public television Saturday, April 20, at 7 p.m.

Berkshires Beat: Humane Society Hosts Annual Humane Race

BHS Humane Heroes will volunteer at the event, hosting a canine snack station with homemade pupsicles and doggy ice cream. The Humane Hero program teaches children about animals and organizes group volunteer activities at the shelter and shelter events.

Ground-Breaking Geneticist Speaking at Williams 230th Commencement

Mary-Claire King, an award-winning geneticist at the University of Washington who first discovered the breast and ovarian cancer gene, will be the principal speaker at Williams College's 230th commencement exercises on Sunday, June 2.

State Officials Issue Reminder About Intoxicate Driving Ahead of 4/20

The first "4/20" day with open recreational marijuana dispensaries has prompted a warning from the state Cannabis Control Commission to relax, take it easy, man. April 20, 4/20, has become somewhat of a holiday among marijuana users and in states that legalized recreational use prior, rallies and events were held to commemorate the day. Locally, three recreational shops have opened and are planning specials and entertainment.

Springside Park Cleanup Going Strong 30 Years Later

At 9 a.m. the rain was pouring down heavily. And despite that, some 30 people volunteered their time to go into Springside Park and clean up litter and debris left behind. The annual park cleanup has hit a milestone with this being its 30th year. The effort is all volunteer and organized by the Friends of Springside Park.

1Berkshire Announces Winner of Esther Quinn Award

This annual award is given to a member of the Berkshire professional community who is involved in several volunteer efforts and continues to make the Berkshires a better place to live and work.

Letter: Pittsfield's Pickleball Service a Fault

The fact that the city of Pittsfield is prepared to disburse $350,000 in support of a project for just 151 citizens seems irresponsible enough. That there is no plan for maintenance when park maintenance in our city is already an issue shows a lack of planning and foresight.

MassWildlife Offers Tips for Dealing With Aggressive Turkeys

A woman in Cambridge was recently injured when a flock of turkeys began pecking at her legs; aggressive turkeys have also been reported and recorded in recent years in Foxboro and Brookline.

Dalton Preschool Presents Fourth Annual Spring Art Walk

Visitors can view the creativity of Dalton Preschool's 3- to -5 year-old student artists and read about the various educational processes involved in each of the featured projects.

The Independent Investor: The Cost of Rebuilding God's House

Sometimes a tragedy can bring people together. In the case of the devastating fire that swept Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral, the world wept. But even before the fire was completely extinguished, the business community was already making plans to rebuild the 850-year-old edifice.

Longtime Nephrologist Honored with BMC Patient-Centered Award

Dr. Henry Rose, who has served kidney disease and dialysis patients at BMC for more than 30 years, was awarded the honor during a special breakfast ceremony on March 29, National Doctors Day.

Williams College Geosciences Professor Wins NSF Grant

The two-year grant totaling $79,585 will support Cohen's research about the co-evolution of life and environments throughout earth's history.

Locals Compete at 123rd Boston Marathon

Lee’s Matt Kinnaman finished 71st in his division to post one of the strongest performances among Berkshire County residents competing at Monday’s 123rd Boston Marathon.

Koperniak Earns NESCAC Player of the Week

Hoosac Valley graduate Matt Koperniak has been named New England Small College Athletic Conference Baseball Player of the Week thanks to strong performances last week.

Berkshire Money Management Adviser Becomes Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor

Tomkiewicz also be able to help retirees take advantage of opportunities as they move into the next — and arguably the most important — phase of their lives.

Cultural Pittsfield This Week: April 19-25

Bob Heck Entertainment will host a Music Bingo Fundraiser at Berkshire Hills Country Club, with all proceeds benefiting the Pittsfield Fourth of July Parade.

Six Williams College Seniors Win Fellowships to Study at Cambridge and Oxford

The five seniors awarded the Herchel Smith Fellowship are Roxanne Corbeil, Mary Kate Guma, Erin Hanson, Elizabeth Hibbard, and Zachary Ottati. Drew Fishman was awarded the Donovan-Moody Fellowship.

Williams College Professor Receives 2019 ACLS Susan McClary and Robert Walser Fellowship

The highly competitive fellowship supports awardees "for their potential to make an original and significant contribution to knowledge."

New 'Dumbo' Left This Mom With Dry Eyes

In this remake of "Dumbo," thought, it was dry eyes all around. All I could think about was why Mrs. Jumbo's trunk seemed way too long suddenly in an effort to make it wrap around Dumbo.